Spoilers · the ending
The Wages of Fear: the ending, explained
Henri-Georges Clouzot · 1953
This page gives the ending away. Not seen the film yet? Its spoiler-free guide is here.
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Spoilers · the ending
Henri-Georges Clouzot · 1953
This page gives the ending away. Not seen the film yet? Its spoiler-free guide is here.
What happens
Mario alone survives the journey and delivers the nitroglycerin, and the oil fire is put out. Elated, he drives home recklessly and plunges off the road to his death. Nothing the men endured buys any lasting reward.
The last image
Mario's truck goes off the road and over the edge, ending the film on the one death no one planned for.
What it says
The ending denies the survivor any reward. The wages were never for courage, only for being poor enough to say yes, and the men who profit are nowhere near the danger. The sudden, cruel turn makes the whole film read as irony.